Thursday, January 11, 2024 Should Sally Sell Seashells?

~ Foodiness

My older sister died in 1987, nearly 40 years ago now. Last summer, my brother-in-law was cleaning out his basement and when he came across her collection of shells, he asked if I wanted them. “Sure!” In my mind, this was a small shoebox-sized collection. When I picked them up a couple months later, he gave me two largish boxes. So now I have shells. Lots and lots of shells. So many shells.

For now, they’re residing on a bed that doesn’t get used, but I can’t keep them there forever. I understand why my sister collected them. They’re gorgeous.

If you ask a scientist how shells are created, you’ll get a very tidy explanation about how mollusks make shells using specialized cells in the outermost layer of tissue on their bodies, called a mantle. Keep reading and you’ll be delving into a complex world of specialized cells, secretions, proteins and minerals like calcium carbonate. So yes, the usual soulless but accurate compilation of information. I’m reminded of what C.S. Lewis wrote in the book Voyage of the Dawn Treader when the travelers meet an old man named Ramandu. He tells them he used to be a star, which prompts Eustace to say “In our world, a star is a huge ball of flaming gas.” To which Ramandu replies, “Even in your world, my son, that is not what a star is but only what it is made of…”

So what are shells? When the Lord made mollusks, He looked upon their soft bodies and gave them a way to protect their vulnerable flesh. Even the most mundane shells are marvelous works from the Great Artist’s workshop. He did not build slums for them, but masterpieces of beautiful architecture. Because that who He is. That’s what He does.

(Technically, the starfish isn’t a shell. It’s not a fish either. Some scientists prefer the name “sea star,” which brings us nicely back to the discussion of stars. But all that is neither here nor there. It’s part of the collection -that’s what’s important.)

I am pondering what to do with this largess of shells. Display them? Sell them? Paint them? Use them in craft projects? Give them away? What would you do?

This blog mollusk will not survive without a protective shell.

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Published by Foodiness

Too old to figure out how to start a blog; too young to give up entirely.

14 thoughts on “Thursday, January 11, 2024 Should Sally Sell Seashells?”

  2. We have a fair amount of shells, more than a shoe box, anyway. I have very few of those fancy kind, but they are lovely non the less. Most of them are probably in a box in the garage. I do have some, a variety representative of my collection in a large Brandy Snifter. They can be looked at, admired and picked up. I don’t have any other ideas, but perhaps others do. I like Sara’s idea, especially with family. It occurred to me, could it be that your shells haven’t been handled since they were handled by Leslie? That would make them very special to your family I would think. ❤ One more idea: I have a large shell that is seven inches wide. It is the home of one of my larger air plants! I have another smaller shell that is home to a smaller air plant as well. I am thinking some of your shells can be homes (or vehicles or ???) for some of the characters in your writing. A boat for the sea captain perhaps?

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  3. Ask Kris to build you a cleverly designed mobile display case with retractable wheels. Storage area below so you can rotate the contents. QR code that visitors can point their phones at to hear you narrating the Story of the Shells and maybe singing sea shanties.

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    1. High tech solutions! I like the whole scenario. I’m especially intrigued by this “Story of the Shells,” that I’m going to be narrating. Is this a story I know already or is it yet to be written?

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  4. I wonder where they all came from….did she collect them from beaches?
    (I don’t mean to be anonymous, but I don’t see where to log in!) M.

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  5. I love shells! I also received a lot of shells when someone passed. Most are displayed in a large square glass container so they can be viewed (currently in the guest bathroom). I also used a large open shell (a not so attractive one) that holds many small shells that I have collected. Every shell is unique and beautiful, be it large or small. Oh, I also have a couple wood bowls that hold shells–looking at one right now. I think shells should be touched and admired–don’t hide them away in a box, if possible. A lot of my shells I’ve collected from various beaches so they are not huge and perfect (but meaningful to me), but it looks like Leslie’s are all lovely and should be displayed. Have fun with them!

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      1. It’s me, Lori! I also didn’t know how to reply without being “anonymous.” Commenting must have changed, or I’m responding differently, because my name used to go through.

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